Course syllabus - Embedded Systems II

Objectives

The objective with this course is to provide deeper theoretical, state-of-the-art, knowledge and methods for development and verification of advanced embedded systems. It provides a diversified view on what an embedded system is, and which types of requirements can be put on such systems.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student should be able to: 
1. Describe different requirements of an advanced embedded system and identify tradeoffs and engineering challenges in such systems. 
2. Analyze, verify and fulfill timing requirements of embedded real-time systems. 
3. Design and analyze safety-critical applications for embedded system based on application requirements and system limitations. 
4.  Use different models to abstract from low-level details when designing complex embedded systems. 
5.  Understand and analyze communications technologies for real-time communication between embedded devices via field busses in a distributed application. 
6. Evaluate how the choice of hardware influence functional and temporal behavior of an embedded system.

Course content

This course extends the Embedded Systems I course, which focuses on state-of-the-practice (SOTP), with a deeper theoretical knowledge, i.e., state-of-the-art (SOTA) methodology, for developing embedded systems. It starts by introducing the problems and the limitations of SOTP used today in industrial systems and presents available theory and tool support to address those problems. Some of the advanced methods covered in this course are developed and mostly used in the academic domain, but they are expected to be used in industrial systems in a near future. The course contents can include, but it is not limited to, advanced formal methods for functional and temporal verification, such as schedulability analysis, hazard analysis, fault tolerance, advanced tool support for development of complex embedded systems, as well as the methods for development of complex distributed real-time applications, with several processing nodes connected through an advanced communication technologies.

Specific requirements

Embedded systems I 7,5 credits and 15 credits in mathematics/applied mathematics including 7,5 credits algebra. In addition, Swedish course B/Swedish course 3 and English course A/English course 6 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course B/Swedish course 3.

Examination

Exercise (INL1), 4,5 credis, examines learning outcomes 1-6, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)
Examination (TEN1), 3 credits, examines learning outcomes 1-6, marks Fail (U), 3, 4 or 5

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass with credit, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps 7,5 credits with DVA404 Embedded Systems II, 3 credits with DVA236 Real-Time Systems 1, 3.8 credits with CDT308 Real-Time Systems I, 3.8 credits with Real-Time Systems I and 4 credits with DVA455 Software Development for Real-Time Systems.
The course can be included in the technology field for dependable systems.